Plane leaving Massachusetts air field crashes, catches fire

Plane leaving Massachusetts air field crashes, catches fire

BEDFORD, Mass. - Authorities say a small private plane with seven people aboard crashed and caught fire as it was leaving Hanscom Field in Massachusetts.

Matthew Brelis, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the air field in Bedford, says emergency personnel were still working the scene overnight Saturday and he couldn't say what condition those aboard the Gulfstream IV aircraft were in.

Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft apparently ran off a runway at 9:40 p.m. Saturday as the plane was taking off. Peters said officials told the FAA the aircraft then caught fire.

The plane was headed to Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey at the time.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating and will determine the cause of the accident.